Red Cross Central Illinois Tornado Response Update

The American Red Cross is providing shelter, hope and comfort across five states to help people affected by Sunday’s devastating tornadoes and severe weather.

Red Cross volunteers are working around the clock to provide food, shelter and supplies to all those whose lives were affected by these storms.

Sunday night, 12 Red Cross shelters were open in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Workers are also providing help to people in Kentucky and Michigan whose homes were affected.

As roads reopen, Red Cross emergency vehicles will hand out meals, snacks and relief supplies in affected communities. Emergency aid stations are open in some areas where people can get food and snacks, mental health and health care services, and information about what help is available. Damage assessment teams are also helping to determine the full scope of the destruction left behind by the tornadoes.

More workers, supplies and equipment stand are being mobilized in case they are needed.

Red Cross workers on the ground now providing relief and we’ll be on the ground for weeks to come helping people get back on their feet.

This has been a deadly and devastating storm, and Red Cross disaster mental health workers are available to help people cope with the aftermath. Health workers are also available to help people replace things like lost medications and eyeglasses.

In the days ahead, Red Cross workers will work with families to make individual recovery plans, fill out paperwork, and connect them to other services to support recovery efforts.

The Red Cross is coordinating closely with government and community partners to provide help and support long term recovery efforts.

Locally, there are currently 5 shelters open.

Crossroads United Methodist Church – 1420 N. Main St in Washington

Evangelical United Methodist Church – 401 Main St in Washington

First United Methodist Church – 154 E. Washington St in East Peoria

Avanti's Dome – 3105 Griffin Avenue in Pekin

Community Health & Rehab Building - 2304 County Road, 3000N in Gifford

Red Cross emergency response vehicles are providing mobile feeding in Washington, Pekin, East Peoria, rural Woodford county and Champaign county. There are fixed feeding sites at Crossroads Church in Washington and Goodfella's in Pekin.

Item Donations: The Hope Chest in Pekin is accepting items for those affected. More will be added to the list in the coming days.

People affected by severe weather and other disasters need help now. You can help people affected by disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.

You can donate by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, mailing it to the local chapter or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Your donation helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters.